Man Tells Police He Beat 2-year-old Son To Death

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - NORTHEAST

February 22, 1996

NEW YORK — The father of a 2-year-old boy was arrested after telling investigators he beat his son to death while trying to toilet train him, police said Wednesday. Kevin Mikell was found in his family's apartment bruised and unresponsive, with a dislocated arm and cigarette burns on his body, Capt. John Dillon said. Anthony Mikell, 43, was charged with murder after his statements to police. The New York Times reported that Anthony Mikell forced the boy to stay on the toilet for more than 12 hours, alternately smacking him and feeding him. According to the Times, Kevin was born on Dec. 18, 1993, and was placed in the city's care 10 days later, apparently because of a positive test for drugs. The child's mother had a history of drug abuse, officials told the newspaper.